AKS Lytham
Same Wakefield area and similar co-ed selective route
School profile
Verified 17 August 2026
Ackworth School is a private secondary-stage school in West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, with a published age range of 2-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 2-19 Sixth form Boarding school Individual
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
Ackworth School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Individual
- Age range
- 2-19
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Ackworth School was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1779, and Quaker practice still gives its co-educational community a particular character. Reflection, equality, peace and responsibility shape the school's vocabulary, even though most pupils now come from non-Quaker families and the community includes boarders and pupils from overseas.
The Senior School carries pupils through GCSE and into the Sixth Form on the same campus. Art, music, drama, sport, trips and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award sit beside classroom study. Boarding is integrated into the wider school, so day pupils and boarders share activities, houses and the rhythm of campus life.
The day or boarding arrangement, entrance process, fees, Quaker practices and Sixth Form subjects all deserve attention before entry. Ackworth's foundation is not simply historical context: it remains apparent in the way faith, residence and school life are held together.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 33.9 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 11.8% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Wakefield and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 33.9
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 2.65
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Wakefield and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 2-19
- Head
- Mr Martyn Beer
- Pupil roll
- 429 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Pontefract Road, Ackworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
- Postcode
- WF7 7LT
- Area
- Wakefield
School leadership
- Head
- Mr Martyn Beer
School contact
- School phone
- 01977233600
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions email
- admissions@ackworthschool.com
- Admissions phone
- 01977 233621
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- Senior School and Sixth Form day tuition including VAT, 2026/27.
- Boarding fees
- Weekly and full-time boarding including tuition and VAT, 2026/27.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- For entry below 16+, age-appropriate English and Mathematics papers are considered with a current-school report and a possible interview. UK Sixth Form entry is based on the published GCSE profile and school report. International routes add supervised English testing; international Sixth Form applicants also take Mathematics and may be interviewed online.
- Admissions note
- The usual Senior School entry points are Year 7 and Year 12, with other year groups considered when places are available. Senior applicants below Sixth Form sit English and Mathematics papers. The normal Sixth Form standard is three GCSE grade 6s and two grade 5s, with grade 6 expected in intended A level subjects. Admission is not automatic for siblings.
The usual Senior School entry points are Year 7 and Year 12, with other year groups considered when places are available. Senior applicants below Sixth Form sit English and Mathematics papers. The normal Sixth Form standard is three GCSE grade 6s and two grade 5s, with grade 6 expected in intended A level subjects. Admission is not automatic for siblings.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
-
1
Entry requirements and suitability
Entry-test performance, current-school references, suitability and the ability to benefit from the curriculum are considered first.
-
2
Siblings and internal transfers
Preference may be given, where possible and within the academic standards, to siblings and pupils transferring between sections of the school.
-
3
Quaker connection
Where equally suitable candidates meet the admission requirements, children of Members or Attenders of the Religious Society of Friends receive preference.
-
4
Registration date
The date of registration is used after the published suitability and Quaker considerations when entry is oversubscribed.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
For entry below 16+, age-appropriate English and Mathematics papers are considered with a current-school report and a possible interview. UK Sixth Form entry is based on the published GCSE profile and school report. International routes add supervised English testing; international Sixth Form applicants also take Mathematics and may be interviewed online.
- Assessment route
- Individual
- Papers and stages
- 4 papers
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Paper 1
English, Maths
Senior School entry below 16+
Candidates sit age-appropriate English and Mathematics papers; external applicants also provide a report from their current school.
-
Paper 2
UK Sixth Form entry
Offers are conditional on the published GCSE profile and a current-school report; no separate UK Sixth Form test format is specified in the current policy.
-
Paper 3
English
International applicant English assessment
International candidates take a supervised online English test provided by PASSWORD.
-
Paper 4
English, Maths, Interview
International Sixth Form assessment and interview
International Sixth Form candidates take supervised English and Mathematics tests and may be interviewed online when an in-person visit is not possible.
Published assessment components
English, Maths and Interview are listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
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English
-
Maths
-
Interview
International Sixth Form candidates take supervised English and Mathematics tests and may be interviewed online when an in-person visit is not possible.
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Submit the registration form
Complete the UK or international registration form and pay the non-refundable registration fee directly to the school.
Start registration - 2
Provide the current-school evidence
A confidential reference is requested from the current or most recent school, with relevant SEND or medical evidence disclosed where applicable.
Review admissions requirements - 3
Complete the assessment process
Senior applicants below Sixth Form complete age-appropriate English and Mathematics papers and may be interviewed; Sixth Form offers depend on the published GCSE standard.
Check entry standards - 4
Accept the written offer
Return the signed parent contract and acceptance payment after any conditions in the offer letter have been met.
Review the process
Official admissions documents
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 33.9 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 2.65 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 11.8% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 28.21 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 20 January 2026
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2026 records an inspection beginning 20 January 2026. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
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Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
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Related pages and guides
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Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Ackworth School handle admissions?
Ackworth School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Ackworth School?
1. Submit the registration form: Complete the UK or international registration form and pay the non-refundable registration fee directly to the school. 2. Provide the current-school evidence: A confidential reference is requested from the current or most recent school, with relevant SEND or medical evidence disclosed where applicable. 3. Complete the assessment process: Senior applicants below Sixth Form complete age-appropriate English and Mathematics papers and may be interviewed; Sixth Form offers depend on the published GCSE standard. 4. Accept the written offer: Return the signed parent contract and acceptance payment after any conditions in the offer letter have been met.
When are the key dates for Ackworth School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Ackworth School?
Ackworth School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 20 January 2026.